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For people born and raised in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado, their Spanish dialect is as old and as rugged as the surrounding mountains. They've often had their language dismissed as "incorrect" by well-meaning teachers. Now that same dialect was about to take center stage at an event that would challenge notions about the regions language and identity.

On July 29, CSU 福利小视频's 4th Annual Aztlán Research Center Summer Institute opened its doors, drawing educators, students, and community members. Participants gathered to explore the relationship between language and identity in this corner of the American Southwest through the prism of a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). It also provided a platform for discussing the philological landscape of the region and its implications for education and cultural preservation

Alexandria Taylor, a nursing senior at CSU 福利小视频 who spoke at the student panel, seemed to embody the complex linguistic journey many attendees shared. Originally from – Taylor shared her journey from dialectal shame to pride. "That's how language died in our house," she recounted, describing how her parents stopped teaching Spanish after a doctor warned it might confuse their children. "It wasn't until I got to CSU 福利小视频 that I realized it was acceptable to speak in the more conversational San Luis Spanish. No one told me it was wrong anymore."

Many of the approximately 100 attendees nodded empathetically, aware of the history that created the San Luis Spanish. When Spanish colonizers first ventured into this rugged terrain from the south, they encountered a world brimming with unfamiliar flora, fauna, and concepts. Faced with this new reality, the pioneers adopted a pragmatic approach to language. They borrowed liberally from the Indigenous tongues they encountered, adapting Native words to fit Spanish phonetics and grammar. This linguistic fusion gave birth to terms like "jején" for mosquito and "tecolote" for owl, both rooted in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs according to reports from the Denver Post.

The arrival of French fur trappers in the region added another layer to this linguistic mix. Later, as English-speaking settlers pushed westward in the 19th century, the local Spanish dialect absorbed anglicisms, transforming them into uniquely regional expressions like "cuques" for cookies and "tiquete" for ticket.

While the Spanish language continued its evolution in the metropolitan centers of Spain and Mexico City, the remote settlements of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico remained largely isolated from these linguistic currents. This seclusion preserved an archaic form of Spanish, embellished with the New World additions that reflected the settlers' experiences and environment.

Challenging Language Hierarchies in Education

Alegria Ribadeneira, a professor at CSU 福利小视频, delivered a thought-provoking presentation about how students explore their identities at an HSI. She highlighted the concept of language hierarchy and power, noting that certain varieties of Spanish, particularly those from Spain, are often afforded higher prestige.

She then shared the story of a local 福利小视频 student from an Ecuadorian family who faced discrimination in the classroom due to his dialect. "The teacher told the other students, 'In this class we are going to learn Spanish from Spain, so don't talk like him,” Ribadeneira said. A collective gasp from the audience punctuated the point, underscoring the ongoing challenges of linguistic prejudice and the importance of inclusive language education.

Beyond Academia: Law Enforcement and Linguistic Diversity

As the day unfolded, it became clear that this wasn't just an academic exercise. Ashley Razey, a patrol deputy assigned to CSU 福利小视频 from the 福利小视频 County Sheriff's Office, found herself reimagining community policing through the lens of linguistic diversity. "We may use the same words but not be speaking the same language," she realized, leafing through a handout of San Luis Valley dialect words that stumped even native Spanish speakers.

The uniqueness of the local dialect came into focus as attendees wrestled with words like "Albañil" (construction worker) and "Algodón" (cotton), their Arabic origins a surprise to many. This linguistic detective game highlighted how various settlers influenced shaping the region's speech, from Indigenous languages to French fur trappers and American settlers.

Deborah Martinez-Martinez, author and founder of Vanishing Publishing, enriched the discussions, adding, "In this region, languages intertwine and flow across borders." Martinez-Martinez established Vanishing Publishing in 2010 to safeguard the narratives of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.

"Our language has roots stretching back to the 16th century, blending Ute, Spanish, and English words," said Martinez-Martinez. She highlighted a shift in language preference happened in the last few decades. “This country got big on itself and only wants the English language. Colorado used to print ballots in Italian, Spanish, and English to reflect the diversity here, and that stopped."

Preserving Indigenous voices in southern Colorado

Samuel Gallegos, an adjunct professor of Indigenous studies at CSU 福利小视频 and attendee said programs like the Aztlán Research Center helps to preserve Indigenous cultures. "There is a resurgence of different tribes reeducating people in their native languages," Gallegos explained.

Gallegos advocated for the expansion of cultural language programs from K-12 through university levels, emphasizing the importance of Southwestern languages being taught in the region as a way to tie young people to their hometown. He suggested that such programs could help elevate Indigenous languages and the unique Spanish dialects of Southern Colorado to the same level of scholarship afforded to more widely taught languages like Latin, Spanish, or Italian.

As CSU 福利小视频 continues to champion linguistic diversity and cultural affirmation, the Aztlán Research Center Summer Institute serves as a vital forum for addressing the interplay of language, identity, and education in southern Colorado. The event, supported by the CSU 福利小视频 Library and the Office of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives, offered free admission to all attendees, underlining the university's dedication to accessible education and community engagement.